consequences of those boots on the ground and suffer through the economic sanctions that the white and the eu have imposed? >> reporter: absolutely and chancellor america -- merkel has spoken to president obama more than any other world leader, and they are still trying to have those conversations, but she has to play to the audience back in germany, of course, and they have some grave concerns about how far actions or sanctions will go. >> i want to remind our audience we're awaiting a news conference that will take place at the rose garden, but you also did research about what angela merkel is angry about the nsa surveillance that yes, the nsa was listening to the german chancellor's cell phone conversations. >> reporter: that's right. and this was something she was furious about. and this is her first trip to the white house since those revelations emerged. germans are still outraged by it, very concerned about it. and chancellor merkel was born and raised in east germany where they used means of information gathering, and that is a bitter and still a strong memory that many germans have.